CARLISLE United manager Steven Pressley accused referee Nicholas Kinseley of showing no levels of composure in the seconds that followed Canice Carroll’s challenge on Jordan Lyden, which saw the former Town man sent off.

Carroll lunged two-footed at Lyden in a dangerous attempt to win possession after a high ball deflected off Keshi Anderson’s knee while under pressure from Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

Lyden immediately clutched his leg in pain following the challenge, while Carroll was shown red less than six seconds after the foul was committed.

The second half incident disgraced Town defender Mathieu Baudry and forward Anderson, who both rushed over to make their feelings known to Carroll – who had only been on the pitch for 24 minutes.

While not disagreeing with Kinseley’s decision to award Carroll a red card, the United boss said Saturday’s official should have consulted those around him and his linesman before making the call.

Pressley said: “I said to the referee after the game, the one thing a referee has to do is be calm and take stock – and he didn’t do that.

“He ran immediately across and couldn’t get the red card out of his pocket quick enough, and I don’t think that’s good refereeing.

“I think you have to manage the situation by consulting your linesman and consulting those around you to make sure you get the right call.

“Whether it was the right call or not, I’m not saying. But I don’t think he showed any level of composure.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

While unhappy with Carroll’s challenge, Town boss Richie Wellens made it clear that the 20-year-old’s lunge on Lyden would in no way have been executed with the intent of causing injury.

Carroll was part of Wellens’ squad from January until the conclusion of last season having joined on loan from Brentford.

He became a first-team regular, playing 17 times and scoring once while receiving five yellow cards.

Wellens said: “I’ve worked with Canice, the challenge wouldn’t have been pre-meditated and there wouldn’t be any true intent to hurt the player.

“Sometimes he sees the ball and he goes in full-blooded. It’s lucky Jordan Lyden’s feet weren’t planted into the ground.

“Canice is a young boy, he’s 20 and he’ll learn from it. I know what he’s like – there would’ve been no intentions.”